Former Immaculate Conception college to be turned into new community centre for Top Of The Hill area in Derry
LOCAL communities are to benefit from the development of three new state of the art community hubs, as plans for centres in the Waterside, Shantallow and Galliagh progress to the next stage.
Design teams have now been appointed to deliver these three projects as part of the Derry City and Strabane District Council capital plan.
Funding has been secured from the Department for Communities and Northside Development Trust to assist with design development costs.
The development will have a significant impact on the delivery of essential community services in some of the city’s busiest areas, and the news has been welcomed by the Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Alderman Hilary McClintock.
“I am delighted to see work continuing to progress on the delivery of these new community centres, which play such a pivotal role in the provision of services for the local community and voluntary sector,” she stressed.
“The centres will be essential in providing for the social and recreational needs of people living in these communities as well as offering vital support through services.
“The work demonstrates Council’s commitment to supporting local community organisations in delivering essential services for the many local people who rely on them, particularly those who are most vulnerable and in need of outside assistance, such as the elderly and those with health conditions.
“I look forward to seeing the plans continuing to advance over the coming months.”
The new Top of the Hill Community Centre will be based at the site of the former Immaculate Conception College in the Trench Road area of the Waterside.
Council has now appointed Doherty Architects as Lead Architect/Design Consultants on the project to work with the Health and Community Directorate and local community groups to design and take forward a centre which meets local needs.
The new centre will replace the original Top of the Hill Community Centre, which was first built in the 1970’s and demolished in May 2013 due to its poor condition.
Since that time the area has been without a shared community space, leaving a serious deficit in community provision within the Waterside.
In partnership and consultation with the local community group, GAA Club, stakeholders and elected representatives Council undertook a Landscape Master Plan for the development of Top of The Hill area and the community centre forms a key part of this.
HMD Architects have been tasked with the successful delivery of two key projects in the Shantallow and Galliagh areas of the Cityside, which have received support from the Department for Communities and Northside Development Trust.
The first, Shantallow Community Centre, is located on Drumleck Drive within the Shantallow neighbourhood of Derry, servicing the city’s Outer North Neighbourhood Renewal Area.
The current centre comprises two separate units including a port-a-cabin and sports hall. The new community centre will be designed to include multi-purpose community space, meeting rooms and fitness suite.
In Galliagh a new purpose designed community hub is also planned offering a range of modern facilities for use by local community and voluntary groups and residents.
The new building will be purpose designed to provide a range of spaces including offices, function rooms and a cafeteria which can be utilized by everyone.
Working in close consultation with Council’s Health and Community Directorate, the appointed consultant team, led by HMD Architects, are now working towards a design which will meet the needs of local community organisations in enhancing their service provision.
Communities Minister Paul Givan said: “Developing infrastructure for community use is a key aim of my Department.
“I know all too well how centres, such as those proposed for the Waterside, Shantallow and Galliagh, act as a real hub of activity for the local community.
“I am pleased that my Department has been able to assist by contributing financially to the design stage of these projects and through the advisory role of my officials as we work with the council and the community to develop facilities for residents across the Neighbourhood Renewal Area.”
Former Immaculate Conception college to be turned into new community centre for Top Of The Hill area in Derry
